I have to use nicknames too, because otherwise I can't remember their names. I can't think of how many times I've forgotten Mats Wilander's name, including a moment ago when I was writing this post. I don't think BG is making fun of the players, I think he's doing this for memory's sake.

Nico is a short form of Nicholas which is him name. In English it is Nick...Nick Almagro although Nick is also the short form for nickname so maybe he is Nickname Almagro although I've never heard anyone call him that.,,yet.

Just for the record, I believe I inspired Brad to have these nicknames. Before he was big on nicknames, I tweeted him a suggestion to call Kei Nishikori "Kobra Kei" After that, he had a poll/contest to figure out a nickname for Milos and got into nicknames.